Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.

Irvine, California 92623-9557

Abstract: This collection of diaries serves as a window into the life of Oscar M. Henry, a
California rancher, farmer and miner. Henry wrote the diaries on his farm in Amador
County, California from 1885 to 1915. In daily entries, Henry documented his social and
business dealings, listed daily and weekly visitors, and reported the weather. He also
recorded the various tasks he completed from day to day, from slaughtering hogs and
hauling wood to plowing, gardening and maintaining the fences. The diaries reflect his
attention to detail; for example, he cited from whom and for how much he bought the books
he used as his journals. In general, the journals illustrate the life of a prosperous
Californian in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Language:
English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by
the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish,
please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Elizabeth R. Annis in 1995.

Processing History

Processed by Alexis Schwarz in 1998.

Biography

Oscar M. Henry was a farmer and mine owner in Amador County, California during the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Henry family first arrived in the United
States in the 1720s from Scotland, settling first in Virginia, then in Tennessee. Oscar
Melbine Henry was born on October 21, 1851 in Cherokee County, North Carolina. The extent
of his education is unknown.

As a young man, Henry relocated frequently, moving to Arkansas, Wyoming and Idaho. In
1876 he settled in Amador County, California. In 1879, he married Amanda Jane Bean
Dicken. The couple had three children: Mary Ida Henry (1880), Rose E. Henry (1884), and
Samuel Oscar Henry (1886), in addition to three boys from Amanda's previous marriage.

Henry and his family often traveled into Volcano, Sutter Creek, Jackson and Amador City
to engage in various business dealings, including gold mining. He was primarily a farmer
and rancher. On his small family farm, he grew hay, wheat, barley, and fruits. He also
raised livestock, including cattle and hogs, owned a vineyard and sold timber. He
prospered, even purchasing land beyond the homestead, an unusual accomplishment for the
typical land-owner. He owned a few houses and also invested in property in Oakland.

Oscar Henry was also a prominent community figure. He founded a school on his ranch land
and served on the school board. His distinction in the community is reflected in the
diary in which he makes note of numerous visitors to his home.

He died on January 25, 1916, while working on his farm. His farms were inherited by his
son Samuel, who bequeathed the property to his wife, who then sold it.

The biographical information was gleaned from verbal recollections of Henry's
granddaughter Elizabeth R. Annis, who donated his diaries to the library.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

This collection of diaries serves as a window into the life of Oscar M. Henry, a
California rancher, farmer and miner. Henry wrote the diaries on his farm in Amador
County, California from 1885 to 1915. In daily entries, Henry documented his social and
business dealings, listed daily and weekly visitors, and reported the weather. He also
recorded the various tasks he completed from day to day, from slaughtering hogs and
hauling wood to plowing, gardening and maintaining the fences. The diaries reflect his
attention to detail; for example, he cited from whom and for how much he bought the books
he used as his journals. In general, the journals illustrate the life of a prosperous
Californian in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The diaries are organized in chronological order. Four diaries in the collection are
originals, and the remainder are photocopies of originals not held by UCI. The container
list indicates which diaries are originals.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.